• Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.

Early impressions from RPS for ME:A. It's... not good

Z

Zakalwe

Banned
The Exploder said:
Everybody is attacking op and RPS, but to me the article sounds like someone clearly articulating why a Mass Effect game kind of sucks. Endless exposition and middling combat? sure sounds like Mass Effect to me.
Click to expand...

And then we look at the list of games the article's writer hated previously...
 
A

Alienfan

Member
A good write up, even if I'm still excited to play it. Although if the dialogue really is that "terrible" surley you could dig up a better example than that
 
T

Tace

Member
There is an interesting thing happening on GAF that I haven't seen anywhere else. It's almost like you guys want the game to fail. Not saying this guy doesn't have a right to an opinion, but why not put this with the other impressions, all of which have been positive?
 
Baleoce

Baleoce

Member
tebunker said:
Yes, and when every one is saying/doing the same thing make it a point to find the person going the other way and find out why.

I am always concerned when everyone is positive on something, it is very possible they are missing something so I like to hear any contrarian opinions, especially ones as well written and thought out as this.

Don't just assume that since "all the impressions are positive" that everything is okay, and definitely don't be dismissive of folks saying things to the contrary. Take the time to understand.


Maybe thats asking too much.
Click to expand...

Yeah, if you have an open enough mind about these things, hearing opinions to the contrary shouldn't bother you in the slightest.

EatChildren said:
As I also noted, I also think it's important that people find reviewers/writers that resonate closely with their own tastes as a means to gauge weight of a preview and how relevant it may be to their own interests, and avoid fixating on pieces simply because they fit their own presumptions and enforced consensus, while in the same breath dismissing alternatives.
Click to expand...

This is the real issue. It always has been.
 
T

TheMrPliskin

Member
Carlius said:
i trust more that one negative that many positive when it comes to EA and bioware, sorry, been burned before there.
Click to expand...

If the vast majority of previews are positive and yet one of them being negative is enough to make you lose all interest in the game then you'd already made your mind up long before reading the negative preview.
 
W

Widge

Member
kulapik said:
John Walker, huh? The most clickbaitish writer of RPS has a negative opinion about the game? Not saying his opinion has to be absolutely invalidated... But his history on the site is quite infamous.
Click to expand...

He appears to be quite unique in his viewpoint but stands by and validates all that he says. I do prefer that than bland uniformity.

I mean I can't say I can put myself in his shoes but that bears out in describing the experiences and games he enjoys. Another example: he also hated Journey and thought everyone was spellbound by a truly dull game. I loved it and performed absolute pee suppression in order to experience the game end to end without a pause.
 
M

Moon_frogger

Member
Catvoca said:
Yes, all the sites are being paid to give Andromeda good previews but RPS, that must be it /s. There's no reason to believe this article is more accurate than any of the others. So it could be spot on but treating like it's the most important write up is dumb.
Click to expand...
Well I'm pretty sure the big sites will be accepting a lot of money in adversiting revenue from this game specifically but RPS won't be. It is a valid point, although I wouldn't expect it to really colour the final reviews so much. It's more of the preview culture that is pretty pervasive with these sites. They'll be having mass effect unboxing parties, hanging out with the developers on twitch streams, doing weeks of 'behind the scenes' exclusive developer interviews and other shenanigans that might colour their perception. It's normal and healthy to be wary of preview coverage from these sites I think
 
E

EatChildren

Currently polling second in Australia's federal election (first in the Gold Coast), this feral may one day be your Bogan King.
As I've said in the community thread, it's great to see some dissenting perspective, given most if not all of the previews from last month fell at various points on the positive spectrum. Much like Sterling, Walker is exceedingly earnest in his views, and I find that commitment to honesty refreshing. Helps that he can write too.

That being said, I don't always find myself in agreeance with his perspective. He lamented his feelings that playing The Witcher 3 could be likened to eating cardboard, and he praised LIMBO while blasting INSIDE. My love for the former cannot be overstated, and with the latter two I'm reversed. So I'm not entirely sure his thoughts on Andromeda will echo my own.

As I also noted, I also think it's important that people find reviewers/writers that resonate closely with their own tastes as a means to gauge weight of a preview and how relevant it may be to their own interests, and avoid fixating on pieces simply because they fit their own presumptions and enforced consensus, while in the same breath dismissing alternatives.
 
G

General Lee

Member
I don't put a lot of stock in previews, good or bad. Usually though most previews tend to be overly positive and ignore any negatives outside the most obvious nitpicks they come across. For negative opinions you gotta read between the lines and try to see where it's coming from and whether it applies to you or not. I enjoyed the hell out of Inquisition, so while I can recognize why someone might hate it for understandable reasons, it doesn't mean I'll hate it.

I do like it that there's more critical previews of games out there, since most of the preview looks are essentially just shilling.
 
L

LaunchpadMcQ

Banned
Tace said:
There is an interesting thing happening on GAF that I haven't seen anywhere else. It's almost like you guys want the game to fail. Not saying this guy doesn't have a right to an opinion, but why not put this with the other impressions, all of which have been positive?
Click to expand...

All I'm saying is GAF is still mad about the ME3 ending, and may or may not want BioWare cut up into small pieces and fed to dogs.
 
wolfhowwl

wolfhowwl

Banned
Kumquat said:
Yeah, but do you really trust those sites for something as huge as this title?

0e0.gif
Click to expand...

Mass Effect 3's reviews were completely in-line with the critical treatment of the first two games.

The same gamers that weren't upset when ME1's technical problems, poor combat, and empty worlds were given a pass by reviewers were apparently very upset that the third game received the same kid glove treatment and scored the same.
 
D

Draft

Member
The preview is obviously a little hysterical, but it does raise the question: why another Mass Effect? It seems like Andromeda is a LOT like the previous games, and we got 3 of those last generation. Aside from being prettier what's the compelling argument for more Mass Effect? My own experience with the series is that the first one delivered the quintessential single player RPG experience, the second was a fun diversion, and by three I'm all set. No more Mass Effect necessary. Nothing shown in Andromeda has me excited about scanning planets, using mass effect magic to make bad guys float, or driving a ATV across another planet with weird shit in the sky.

So if Andromeda can't justify it's existence by being fresh, can it at least be the best Mass Effect? Can the UI finally be good? If Mass Effect wants to be an action game, can it have action game quality combat? Can the characters be better than Wrex and Tali and Garrus and Saren? Story wise Mass Effect has been on a downward slope from the first game. Mordin is a winner. I guess some people really liked the fishman. Apparently the forerunner from ME3 is well received, but I didn't pay for the DLC so I wouldn't know. I could not tell you who the bad guy was in ME3.

I'm ready to love Mass Effect. The first game made me care about video game characters in a way no game has ever done. It's been a mixed bag ever since. Nothing I'm seeing in Andromeda makes me think it will capture the magic of Mass Effect.
 
Majukun

Majukun

Member
the fact that the gamneplay seems better than the previous games actually make me more interested than any news about the story ever will

never completed mass effect 1 because of how dull the game was.
 
C

cabot

Member
Catvoca said:
Yes, all the sites are being paid to give Andromeda good previews but RPS, that must be it /s. There's no reason to believe this article is more accurate than any of the others. So it could be spot on but treating like it's the most important write up is dumb.
Click to expand...

Also, there was an earlier preview on RPS that was more positive from Holly Nielsen.

They're right though, it's definitely just pure RPS being untainted from dem bribes and not a difference of opinion!
 
D

Drencrom

Member
Within minutes of starting there’s a cutscene in which a soldier type is shooting an already entirely dead corpse, and someone else has to say, “Hey, hey, take it easy,” and he fires off a few more shots and declares himself satisfied. I can’t even imagine how anyone can feel okay with writing that into a script without experiencing enough shame to just get up, walk away, and keep walking until they fall off of or into something.
Click to expand...

Generic Grumpy Space Captain Lady is there, right up front. With a deft hand she begins by correcting your grammar from “who” to “whom”, and then in the same conversation says “less” when she means “fewer”. Whatever, but don’t play Grammar Corrector if you don’t know any.
Click to expand...

Before the term has even been explained to you, you’re granted that awe-inspiring title of “Pathfinder”. People stop and mutter reverently when they realise it’s you, far before you even know it’s you. To get to grips with the title you need to dig through the game’s Codex, which is a crappy way of explaining one of its core concepts, let alone helpful in making the ridiculously early appointment anything close to meaningful. It feels so flippant, like a programmed sigh of, “Bollocks to it, the player has to become The Special One, no point dragging it out.” Within an hour of starting you’re so titled.
Click to expand...

G1YQxhu.gif


Bravo BioWare!
 
Z

Zakalwe

Banned
wolfhowwl said:
Mass Effect 3's reviews were completely in-line with the critical treatment of the first two games.

The same gamers that weren't upset when ME1's technical problems, poor combat, and empty worlds were given a pass by reviewers were apparently very upset that the third game received the same kid glove treatment and scored the same.
Click to expand...

3 had more wrong with it, though:

It relegated the conclusion of plot arcs to entries in the codex, generally ignored all player choice from the previous games, that dumb ninja dude, and then that ending...

The actual gameplay of 3 is pretty good, aside from some of the shitty side-quest war asest stuff.
 
T

TheFatMan

Member
I have disagreed with almost every single one of this guys reviews. I'm not sure if he just thinks that much differently than I do, or if the guy just writes shit to be click bait, but I no longer trust most of the reviews on RPS because of him.

I mean the guy talked shit about the Witcher 3 being boring and terrible.....and it was my GOTY along with thousands of other GAFers.

Not saying he is wrong about Anromeda, because I haven't played it, but his opinion means shit to me ;)
 
J

jond76

Banned
Well, luckily, anyone with EA Access and try it tomorrow for free and decide if its something they want to invest in.

That's what I'll be doing.
 
C

CHC

Member
”I tend to live the way I work: kinda ”feel it, do it." Not a lot of close ties, no real sense of purpose." – Actual dialogue someone wrote on purpose.
Click to expand...

”You're the Pathfinder! They'll listen to you! My husband's been arrested for a crime he didn't commit!"
Click to expand...

I am sorry to use such a dusty old cliche, but if this isn't "pre-order cancelled" material, I don't know what would be.

John Walker is a tremendous asshole, though, so.... we'll see. But I mean, I'm not really disappointed because of his opinions, those are actual quotes from the game, and they are terrible.
 
A

AlfredX1990

Banned
Push a panic button over one single negative preview among a lot that are positive? Especially over an article this bad that says that doesn't understand how could the writers not kill themselves?

So, what would've happened if Jim Sterling was the first review Zelda received?
 
A

Aaron D.

Member
No investment in ME:A. Will not be buying it. Don't care how it's received.

That said, John Walker is on my permanent Ignore List.

His click-bait writing style almost single-handedly has me ignoring RPS.

What a sad blemish on that website.
 
T

The Salt Life

Banned
I'm buying this for the MP which looks amazing, I'll give the story a shot eventually.

I'm not worried and really looking forward to this. What I have learned is, my opinion differs greatly from reviewers like this. I'm not fearing this being a bad purchase.

What this person calls bland dislodge I might find enjoyable. It's an opinion, it's noted, but I'm not panicking at all.
 
Z

Zakalwe

Banned
TheFatMan said:
I have disagreed with almost every single one of this guys reviews. I'm not sure if he just thinks that much differently than I do, or if the guy just writes shit to be click bait, but I no longer trust most of the reviews on RPS because of him.

I mean the guy talked shit about the Witcher 3 being boring and terrible.....and it was my GOTY along with thousands of other GAFers.

Not saying he is wrong about Anromeda, because I haven't played it, but his opinion means shit to me ;)
Click to expand...

He writes his articles well and backs up his claims. I think his opinion is honest, and plenty of people with dissenting opinion exist on GAF which proves he's not some kind of unicorn.

His opinion rarely aligns with my own, but some of his critiques of the games he doesn't like I can nod with. In general though, I'm not really concerned when he says he doesn't like a game. It's rare I agree.
 
T

thumb

Banned
Aaron D. said:
No investment in ME:A. Will not be buying it. Don't care how it's received.

That said, John Walker is on my permanent Ignore List. His click-bait writing style almost single-handedly has me ignoring RPS. What a sad blemish on that website.
Click to expand...

I don't always agree with Walker either, but he is not "click bait". Do you even know what that is? Having an opinion you find distasteful is not click bait.
 
I

ironcreed

Banned
Majukun said:
the fact that the gamneplay seems better than the previous games actually make me more interested than any news about the story ever will

never completed mass effect 1 because of how dull the game was.
Click to expand...

Yeah, the gameplay looks so much better that it is not even funny. But on the other side of the coin, I also think that I can handle BioWare jank, filler quests and some cheesy space drama.

funny-game-glitch-mass-effect-hug.gif


tumblr_mvwwlpPIgS1rti868o4_500.gif


After all, that is part of the deal with Mass Effect.
 
S

shinobi602

Member
op_ivy said:
Yikes.

Shinobi? Comments?
Click to expand...
He's entitled to his opinion? I'm enjoying the game a lot, as are a bunch of others playing it. It's pretty far left field from what the majority of previews and impressions have been saying. There's even another writeup from another Rock, Paper, Shotgun writer that was praiseworthy: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/02/23/mass-effect-andromeda-is-looking-good/

Anyway, this person also hated The Witcher 3 and thought Inside was shit among others so our tastes certainly don't align.

mattiewheels said:
Shinobi seems to love all things Bioware, including Inquisition. I liked it too, but I know there were some real issues with it.
Click to expand...
I had issues with Inquisition, which I've made known before. I don't blindly love anything.
 
I

i-Lo

Member
Really conflicted about the pre-order right now. I feel optimistic about the game's potential in about half a year's time with multiple patches but certain core problems won't be aided in that regard.

ME:A is starting to sound like one of ubisoft's annual releases but with more melodrama.

I have over a year's worth of backlog in games but I really want to play ME.
 
L

LKSmash

Member
thumb said:
I don't always agree with Walker either, but he is not "click bait". Do you even know what that is? Having an opinion you find distasteful is not click bait.
Click to expand...

Purposefully being contrarian is click bait. Armond White has made a career out of it.
 
A

Admodieus

Member
I think a lot of the negativity we'll see for this game over the next few weeks is due to it following the release of both Horizon and Zelda. Those games set a higher bar of expectations for what an open world game should be in 2017; Horizon with its tightly focused and interesting narrative, and Zelda for its "What's over the next hill" sense of exploration.

Coming from those, Mass Effect must seem like a souped up Dragon Age Inquisition set in space. I went back to DA:I last fall to play the Trespasser DLC and it felt archaic to me, especially coming off Witcher 3. Can't imagine what it would be like after playing Horizon and Zelda. And this is coming from a big Mass Effect fan.
 
C

cheesekao

Member
I've learned to always take anything John Walker says with a barrel full of salt based on his history. Only time will tell how this game will end up.
 
E

emag

Member
I've preordered ME:A. That said, I think the RPS author's points are largely fair. The examples provided do support the position that the dialog (at least early in the game) and UI are poor.

However, atrocious writing is unfortunately par for the course in video games; the best I'd expect from ME:A is something fun but dumb (like KotOR/ME1/ME2 and unlike DA:I, which was just dumb). The UI design is also an anticipated flaw, given Bioware's history (DA:I's crafting and equipment menus were infuriating). Is the moment-to-moment gameplay enjoyable and pacing/storytelling/worldbuilding engaging? The author is largely silent on those points.

In short, I don't intend to cancel my preorder on the basis of this preview.
 
V

Van Bur3n

Member
At the very least, I wouldn't be surprised if the writing is as bad as its made out to be. With what has been shown of it so far based on previews, it doesn't sound very good.

Besides that, OP clearly has his own agenda against the game and Mr. Walker didn't like The Witcher 3 which largely contrasts my views of that game.

I'll take this thread and the article itself with a grain of salt.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

BioWare Thinks Mass Effect Andromeda Was Better Game Than Reception Suggested; Learned Not to Put in Open World in RPGs for the Sake of It
Opinion News Game Dev 2 3
131
8K
Perrott replied
Dragon Age: The Veilguard 140,000 lines of dialogue and 700 characters, the most of any Bioware game
News 2 3
124
8K
BehemothBlade replied
Has there been a jump in quality from 1 game to direct sequel such as mass effect 1 to 2?
2 3 4 5
219
7K
Majormaxxx replied
Former Anthem dev lead says he would like to "one day reboot" the game, given the "enduring love" of fans
Opinion Game Dev 2
51
2K
dmaul1114 replied
Dragon Age: The Veilguard - Hands-On Previews
2 3 4
150
11K
PeteBull replied
Top Bottom